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I really like my 211 and use it a lot. I will say, though, that I just "kind of" use the settings around the knobs to get in the ballpark for whatever I am welding, so I haven't really noticed that it welds "too hot" or "too cold" or whatever. I usually just sort of take a stab at where the knobs should be, make a little test weld and then crank it in whatever direction I think it needs to go....or maybe just move faster or slower. Good welds are, after all, NOT about the automation, but are all about using your judgement to see how the puddle looks and moves and then look at the finished weld. Make adjustments from there. Granted, the numbers on the machine should get you "in the ballpark", but they can not and WILL NOT always be exactly right for every situation.

I am NOT saying that I am some kind of a magical weldor, but the difference between being a WELDOR and just a part of some big machine that calls himself a "Weldor" is using judgement and experience to figure out problems yourself, set your machine correctly yourself and NOT just do what someone or some chart tells you to do.

Don J
Reno, NV

Never pick a fight with an old guy. Old guys are too smart to fight and get hurt. They'll just kill you and get it over with.

Of all the different Millers we've owned over the years the door charts have always been a little on the high side, always thought it may be a liability issue. A good weldor doesn't need charts or digital meters to dial in a machine.

Really?

I would think that a 'good welder" would be the first man (or woman) to look at the charts when first dealing with an unfamiliar machine. Those of us who are not clairvoyant tend to use them for at least initial settings, and then fine-tune from there.

From a marketing standpoint its probably a good idea to have them burn a bit on the hot side. No new owner will ever be displeased to discover that their shiny new blue is more powerful than they expected and when they reach over and turn that dial down it does a lot more to assure themselves that they chose wisely than if they have to turn it up to get the job done.